Our Providers

Lawrence J. Mathers, MD, FAAFP, CMO/CMIO

Dr. Mathers studied Chemical Engineering, Biomedical Engineering, and Spanish at Carnegie Mellon University, receiving bachelor’s degrees there. He obtained his medical degree at the University of Pittsburgh and did his residency in Family Medicine with Obstetrics at the Waukesha Family Practice Residency Program. Dr. Mathers is a member of: the American Academy of Family Physicians, the American Congress of Obstetricians and Gynecologists, the American Society for Colposcopy and Cervical Pathology, and Christian Medical and Dental Associations. His professional interests include: family-centered obstetric care, outreach to underserved and migrant populations, medical informatics, and mentoring nurse practitioners, medical students and residents. He is happily married with two wonderful children. His hobbies include distance running, playing piano, and strumming guitar.

Behavioral Health Providers

Sharmian McCoy, MA, LPC-MHSP

Sharmian received her Bachelor of Art in Psychology/Women’s Studies from the University of Tennessee in 1999 and her Master of Art in Counseling with a concentration in Marriage and Family from East Tennessee State University in 2001. She is a trauma-informed clinician trained in Trauma Focused Cognitive Behavioral Therapy (TFCBT) and utilizes other Cognitive Behavioral Therapy (CBT) techniques in her practice working with individuals, children, families and couples. She enjoys reading, hiking, traveling, fishing, boating and spending quality time with her husband and 2 children.

Maureen Carroll Smith, PsyD, Behavioral Health Director

Maureen is a clinical psychologist who earned her doctorate at Florida Tech in 1991, and her bachelor’s in psychology and English at the University of Michigan in 1983. She completed her internship at the Institute for Child and Family Health in Miami, FL., followed by residency training at Counseling and Psychological Services in Melbourne, FL. Maureen’s areas of interest include primary care behavioral health, rural healthcare, depression, anxiety, and trauma. She values the opportunity to provide behavioral and emotional support for RMS patients through solution-focused and cognitive behavioral interventions. Maureen enjoys spending time with family and friends, hiking, reading, skiing, and playing music.

Nurse Practitioners

Kristi Bradshaw, FNP-BC

Kristi is a graduate of Carson Newman College/University for both her undergraduate studies and her Master of Science in Nursing. She is a member of both ANCC and AANP. Kristi is married and has two children.

Richard F. Connelly, FNP

Richard received his Bachelor of Science in Nursing degree from the University of Virginia in Charlottesville, VA in May, 1992, and his Master of Science of Nursing degree from the University of Tennessee in December, 1994. He is certified by the American Nurses Credentialing Center as a Family Nurse Practitioner.

Richard has been with Rural Medical Services since August, 1997. He is married, and he enjoys hiking in the Smoky Mountains.

Jessica Duncan, FNP-BC

Jessica attended East Tennessee State University in Johnson City, TN and received her Bachelor of Science in Nursing in 2001. She then completed her Master of Science in Nursing at Frontier Nursing University in Hyden, KY in 2013. Jessica is a member of ANCC and AANP. She is board certified as a Family Nurse Practitioner and enjoys treating patients of all ages. Jessica is married with one child and spends her free time with her family, traveling and attending sporting events.

Brandi M Haynes, FNP-BC

Brandi attended Walters State Community College where she earned an Associate of Applied Science in Nursing, and ETSU where she completed her Bachelor of Science in Nursing. She also received her Master of Science in Nursing FNP at ETSU and has the ANCC FNP certification. Brandi moved to Tennessee from W.Va. in 2001. Prior to graduating with her MSN, she worked as an Emergency Room Nurse. She enjoys spending time with her son Jaxson, her significant other Brian and her German Shepard, Maverick.

Rachel Mathers, FNP

Rachel received her BSN from the University of Pittsburgh and obtained her MSN from the University of Wisconsin, Milwaukee. She is Board Certified: ANCC.

Brittany Pruitt Dixon, FNP

Brittany obtained her undergraduate degree at ETSU and completed her MSN at Carson-Newman University in 2018. She is a member of the AANC and she is married.

Kristi Ryan, MSN, FNP-BC

Kristi attended East Tennessee State University where she earned her BSN. She continued her studies at Carson Newman University, completing her MSN there. Women’s health is one of her special interests. Her hobbies include reading, traveling (especially cruising), and watching her favorite sports teams (Tennessee Vols, Atlanta Braves, and Nashville Predators).